Whether felt or not, I believe we all carry pain within us. The expression in the bodywork field, "The issues are in the tissues" carries significant weight.

When people come to see me, there is conversation of pain and how they can rid themselves or find some relief. Sometimes, it is not that simple. The underlying issue resulting in such pain, is quite possibly many layers deep. If pain takes a substantial time to abate, this could be a sign of emotional trauma or something much deeper.

The way we carry ourselves always tells a story. The tissues never lie. Two people could have suffered the same injury and undergo similar treatment protocols; one of these individuals will heal while the other experiences prolonged pain and suffering. While there are physical variables that can account for the person's success in recovery there are also emotional variables in this equation that can be linked to the person's emotional state during the trauma, emotional state prior and their chronic mental/emotional state.

A person who walks with constant slumped shoulders tells a different story than the person who walks more upright and open. The body language of the person who walks slumped over may tell a story of early childhood trauma where the need to guard was constantly present for instance.

Our bodies are far more complex than just - "relax these muscles here and result will be x and you will feel better". Not addressing the underlying cause of will result in the return of the discomfort. Some individuals will even create a similar accident and re-injure themselves all over again.

We are not merely a sum of our experiences, but an organism of great intelligence. This intelligence only understands the concept of balance and what it must do to keep us upright and alive. It does not understand our ailments and the labels we give them.

The role of the bodywork professional is to aid this intelligence in releasing the inner pain via soft-tissue work. Thomas Myers, the author of Anatomy Trains speaks of external pain versus internal pain. External pain is an external force that is introduced into the body that causes pain, such as a stubbed toe. Internal pain is the pain that has been walled off and encapsulated by our tissues to prevent further damage. Our entire body becomes organized around this area of pain and to an extent our lives become organized around it. For instance, someone who is suffering a great deal of pain cannot work as much and is unable to make the required income to survive.

What if we looked deeper into our pain? Take for example, when a trigger point is released, it may be uncomfortable at first, but after the muscle is allowed to relax, movement and freedom appear in its wake. This is the same for emotional pain. We unknowingly carry so much of it, wouldn't it be worth it to finally rid ourselves of it?

Releasing internal pain not only carries freedom and movement but a sense of awakening. A little bit of discomfort is worth the great deal of freedom that is gained.

I have shared the video below from Thomas Myers as he explains the differences between external and internal pain. Thomas Myers' work is very fascinating. He teaches workshops around the country and world and his held in the highest esteem among his peers.

If you have any questions regarding this information, feel free to reach out to me. You can email me or call me at 602-730-2508.

Author

JoAnn Clinton

JoAnn Clinton has been intrigued with biology ever since she can remember. She's been touching bodies and lives since she became a Reiki Master Teacher in 2004. This desire to help others in a profound way led her to an amazing journey to other countries to learn about other wellness-promoting techniques. It wasn't until 2010 that JoAnn discovered Craniosacral rather, craniosacral discovered her. She completed the Cranial Unwinding program at SWIHA where she received her Certificate of Excellence and underwent extensive training through The Upledger Institute.

JoAnn completed 750 hours of massage therapy training and received her diploma at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe, AZ. She continues to continue her bodywork education and considers herself a lifelong learner in the healing arts.